Arraignment set for Cheney, Gonzales in abuse indictment...

November 20, 2008

Arraignment set for Cheney, Gonzales in abuse indictment RAYMONDVILLE, Texas (AP) -- A Texas judge has set an arraignment for Vice President Dick Cheney, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and other officials accused of involvement in prisoner abuse. Presiding Judge Manuel Banales said Wednesday he will allow them to waive arraignment or have attorneys present rather than appear in person Friday. Banales also said he would issue summonses, not warrants. That allows them to avoid arrest and the need to post bond. Willacy County District Attorney Juan Guerra accuses Cheney, Gonzales, a state senator and others of involvement in prisoner abuse at a federal detention center in south Texas. California high court to hear lawsuits on gay marriage ban SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- California's highest court agreed Wednesday to hear several legal challenges to the state's new ban on same-sex marriage but refused to allow gay couples to resume marrying before it rules. The California Supreme Court accepted three lawsuits seeking to nullify Proposition 8, a voter-approved constitutional amendment that overruled the court's decision in May that legalized gay marriage. All three cases claim the measure abridges the civil rights of a vulnerable minority group. They argue that voters alone did not have the authority to enact such a significant constitutional change. House panel backs Waxman over Dingell as energy chair WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rep. Henry Waxman of California won backing from a House Democratic leadership panel Wednesday to replace veteran Rep. John Dingell as chairman of the committee with oversight of energy and global warming. Waxman won a 25-22 vote in the Democratic Steering and Policy panel, which is packed with allies of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., a rival of Dingell. The panel also is dominated by more liberal members who are ideologically in tune with Waxman. But Waxman and Dingell, D-Mich., will still square off on Thursday when rank-and-file Democrats vote. Dingell's allies believe he'll do better among the broader Democratic caucus. Debate over security pact ends in lawmakers scuffling BAGHDAD (AP) -- A heated parliamentary debate on the U.S.-Iraq security treaty was called to an early close Wednesday as lawmakers loyal to anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr scuffled with security guards for the foreign minister and the speaker of the legislature and his two deputies. The session was chaotic from the start, with lawmakers shouting at each other. Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani added to the din by repeatedly yelling at legislators to sit down or keep quiet, but failed to restore order. The turmoil followed the announcement by two small political factions that they would join al-Sadr's supporters in opposing the security pact, which would allow American forces to stay in Iraq for three more years. The deal is backed by the governing coalition, which holds a majority in parliament, but Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is campaigning for help from other blocs in hopes of passing the measure with broader support in a vote by legislators Monday. Israel resists pleas from U.N. to ease Gaza Strip blockade JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel stood fast Wednesday by its decision to clamp shut cargo crossings at the Gaza Strip, brushing off pleas to ease the blockade from United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon. Israel sealed the passages two weeks ago after a five-month-old truce between Israel and Gaza militants started unraveling in an effort to halt rocket and mortar fire at Israeli border towns. The crossings, a main source of imports to Gaza, have been cracked open occasionally to allow in fuel and vital supplies. But the closures have drastically reduced the amount of goods entering the already impoverished seaside territory of 1.4 million people, causing shortages of many basic goods. On Tuesday, Ban called Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert "to express his deep concern over the consequences of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza," the U.N. said in a statement.